The Pinnacle Cup in Dota 2 is the first of four-tournament series that sums up to $200,000 in winnings and a Malta-based bootcamp. For the participants, the week-long bootcamp in Malta also spots an enticing 5-star InterContinental hotel staycation.
Organized by Pinnacle and Eden Esports, its an evolution of the Malta Vibes Series of events, and a fun take on Dota 2 tournaments. If anything, it’s baffling to consider how the Pinnacle Cup gathered forty teams to participate in a $50,000 prize pool.
The Pinnacle Cup: Malta Vibes #1
Pinnacle Cup Malta Vibes #1 – Format and Teams
For a tournament of such caliber, the Pinnacle Cup consists of single-elimination format as Playoffs, where matches are best-of-three. Except for the best-of-five grand final, every match still feels demanding and fair to decide the winning team for advancement.
Going into the Playoffs format, Rounds 1 and 2 gathered thirty-two teams, with several notable teams from the Dota Pro Circuit.
From the more recognizable names we had: Alliance, Balrogs, cybercats, D2 Hustlers, IVY, Into The Breach, Ancient Tribe, NAVI Junior, Sigma.YNT, No Sorry, UALEIKUMNIHAO, and The Oversight. Several teams that are from the prominent Division 1 bracket of DPC 2023 also competed in Pinnacle Cup, such as Darkside, Team DogChamp, and Monaspa.
Round 3 is where even more familiar teams come in, the likes of: BetBoom Team, ex-HellRaisers, OG, Old G, Natus Vincere, One Move, Quest Esports (aka Ooredoo Thunders), and Virtus.pro.
© Pinnacle
Recap & Narratives at Pinnacle Cup Malta Vibes #1
As of today, the Pinnacle Cup has reached its Quarterfinals phase, where only eight teams remain. After the clash of powerhouses in Round 3, D2 Hustlers, Natus Vincere, Into The Breach, ex-HellRaisers, Old G, OG, Monaspa, and Virtus.pro are the top eight teams.
Most teams performed as anticipated, except for BetBoom, who fell out after losing to Monaspa. It’s never a good look for a qualified Berlin Major candidate, but certainly more to expect in the Quarterfinals regardless.
Notably, we have Old G vs ex-HellRaisers, which is a must-watch for OG fans. Ex-HellRaisers is the DPC 2023 Eastern Europe Tour 2 winner, and will be competing at Berlin Major. It’s a good glimpse into how far Old G has improved itself. After all, Old G has its eyes set on the Division 1 of the toughest region and eventually the Major.
Another dream match-up is Old G and team OG, a clash between old-school vs young blood. However, that would require OG to defeat Virtus.pro in the Quarterfinals first. This would indeed be a highly-anticipated match as the two European rivals compete to prove which European region is tougher.
In hindsight, quarterfinals at the Pinnacle Cup Malta Vibes #1 will surely be thrilling. Competition gets harsh at this stage, thanks to the strategic Playoffs arrangement. We may get to witness legendary matchups much earlier than when Old G eventually reaches the Division 1 bracket after their own Division 2 run.
Of course, having several Berlin Major participants in the competition also spices the Pinnacle Cup Malta Vibes #1 predictions later.
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